Dozens celebrate 150th anniversary of Custers’ wedding in Monroe

-Monroe News photo by TOM HAWLEY
George (Steve Alexander), and Libbie (Val Jonas) Custer, talk about their life. The Custer's would have been married 150 years today, as they celebrate their anniversary at the Monroe County Historical Society.

-Monroe News photo by TOM HAWLEY
George (Steve Alexander) Custer shares a moment with Libbie (Val Jonas) Custer, as Monroe County Historical Society Curator Chris Kull tells the audience the Custer's life story when they met. The couple would have been married 150 years today, as they celebrate their anniversary at the Monroe County Historical Society.

One hundred and fifty years ago Sunday, the “prettiest girl” in Mon­roe married her warrior prince in an elaborate ceremony that was billed as “The Wedding of the Century.”

About 40 people gathered at the Monroe County Historical Museum in the after­noon to mark the 150th wedding annives­ary of Gen. George Armstrong Custer and his bride, Elizabeth Bacon Custer.

The Custers were married in an elaborate ceremony that drew 300 people to their reception that cold night. Their wedding took place beginning at 8 p.m. Feb. 9, 1864, in the First Presbyterian Church in Lor­anger Square. Every pew was filled. Even more stood outside the church despite the low temperatures to watch.

“I felt bad for the people who waited outside the church,” said Libbie Custer, portrayed by Val Jonas.

Museum curator Chris Kull began the afternoon’s anniversary celebration by talking about the history of the couple and their wedding day before opening the floor to Mrs. Custer and Gen. Custer, portrayed by Steve Alexander.

-Monroe News photo by TOM HAWLEY
George and Elizabeth Custer would have been married 150 years today, as they celebrate their anniversary at the Monroe County Historical Society.

Ms. Kull said the wedding had to be agreed upon by Libbie’s father, Judge Dan­iel S. Bacon, which took some time.

“I think he was the only thing Custer was afraid of,” she said.

On her wedding day, the bride wore a white silk long-sleeved dress with a long veil and a crown of orange blossoms. She carried a bouquet of red roses and wore a brooch with a lock of her deceased mother’s hair, Ms. Kull said.

Gen. Custer was dressed in a brigadier­general dress frock and sash.

The couple exchanged plain gold bands engraved with their initials during the nuptials before leaving the church in a sleigh with four white horses, which took them from the church to their home for a reception.

The parlor was decorated in white with orange blossoms, which Ms. Kull admits she isn’t sure how the flowers were able to be in Monroe in the middle of winter.

Gen. and Mrs. Custer then were asked questions about their lives as a married couple. Among the questions was what the couple would wear on their wedding day.

“ We exchanged letters all the time and he would ask me what I was going to wear,” Mrs. Custer said. “I told him I was going to wear a pea green dress with mili­tary colors. He was gallant about it, but I wanted him to think otherwise.”

The general admitted to getting his hair cut before the ceremony.

“I cut my hair back to present an image to the town of Monroe,” Gen. Custer said.

They shared it took about three times before Libbie accepted the general’s pro­posal, though she said, she knew all along she would marry him.

Marrying a military man was difficult, the couple admitted.

“That was the biggest hurdle for her dad,” Gen. Custer said. “He had reserva­tions because he didn’t want her to marry a solider so she wouldn’t become an early widow.”

Mrs. Custer said she was a “daddy’s girl” but was determined to marry the general even when her father protested.

The couple said they honeymooned in Virginia at Pony Mountain.

Being a military bride was difficult, Mrs. Custer said, and she had to give up the luxuries she was used to growing up in Monroe. Such difficulties was realized when her wedding dress was left by the dock and mildewed, ruining the garment.

The couple was asked about the cost of their wedding ceremony, but no price was given.

“It was a gift to us,” Mrs. Custer said. “Father wanted to make me so happy. Money wasn’t an object. It was a beautiful wedding.”

Gen. Custer was asked what would have happened if he would have survived the Battle of Little Big Horn and came back to his wife.

“I would have hoped the Democrats would have won the ’76 (1876) election,” he said. “I think they would have backed me to be head of the Indian Bureau.”

The couple said they wanted to start a family, but were never able to have chil­dren. Instead, they enjoyed teaching and caring for other kids.

Their love story was short-lived as they were married for only 12 years before Gen. Custer’s death.

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